Electricity: 5,000MW needed to satisfy demand
ELECTRICITY SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT is needed to upgrade infrastructure over the next five years
GECOL is responsible for generation, transmission, and distribution of electric power throughout Libya.
DEMAND for electricity in Libya is growing at an annual rate of around 8% and will continue to rise as the economy expands. It is expected to reach 5,800MW by 2010, surging to 8,000MW by 2020.
Current installed generation capacity stands at approximately 4,700MW, but plans have been set in motion by the state-owned General Electricity Company of Libya (GECOL) to generate an additional 5,000MW within the next five years.
“There is a need to achieve this goal before 2010 in order to meet the rising demand and to guarantee the security of supply to all social and economic sectors in the country,” says Secretary of the People’s Committee for GECOL Omran Ibrahim Abukraa.
GECOL is responsible for generation, transmission, and distribution of electric power throughout Libya. The utility has drawn up a master plan aimed at raising the level of security and adequacy of supply, improving efficiency, and building up national and international interconnection.
However, the upgrading will require substantial funding, and Libya is looking for foreign investors. Mr. Abukraa estimates the total cost at around $7.5 billion by the end of 2010.
This includes plans to spend $3.5 billion on building eight new steam cycle and natural gas combined cycle power plants over the next five years. Unlike conventional steam power plants, combined cycle power plants use a combination of a gas turbine and a steam turbine to operate more efficiently and cost-effectively.
At present, the majority of Libya’s existing power stations are oil-fired, although a few have been converted to gas. Foreign companies are to be allowed to invest in gas production for conversion to electricity and subsequent exports to Europe.
To this end, it is planned to link Libya with Europe through Tunisia and Egypt. A transmission line of 220KV already exists between the three and another of 400KV is planned.
New link planned with Tunisia and Egypt to facilitate exports to Europe
The transmission network that GECOL manages is the longest in the region, serving cities scattered along the Libyan coastline and extending more than 1,000 miles south into the desert.
A $1 billion improvement and expansion of the grid is in progress. GECOL is about halfway towards upgrading the system’s voltage level from 220KV to 400KV. This involves the installation of 2,800 miles of new power lines, with the aim of connecting up the whole country.
Last year, Siemens of Germany won a contract to install new network control centers in the regions of Tobruk, Benghazi, Tripoli, Zawia, and Sebha. The centers will monitor the operating state of the grid. Switching operations will be performed from a main control room, improving reaction to system disturbances and reducing the risk of blackouts.
SOURCES:
SUMMIT COMMUNICATIONS
